[matese]

I got my cockatiel a female from a breeder as a little baby, I hand trained her, when I was home she was always on my shoulder, she would wrap her wings around my neck like she was hugging me. When I ate she would take pieces of food off my plate, she would walk the floor like a dog lol, I just loved that little bird, so did my Poodle. I had many varieties of dwarf parrots. My first bird was a parakeet, wings not clipped, she was out of her cage when I was home, you do not need 2 parakeets, two tend to bond with each other and not with the owner. As I wrote due to my experience with my first yorkie I will not get anymore birds, but I will say, it all depends on the dog. My first one that wanted to eat my birds was a puppy at that time, as an adult she was very gentle, the bird died before the yorkie reached adulthood, who knows, maybe my yorkie's attitude towards birds would have changed. I cannot keep a bird caged, they need the freedom to fly, even if wings are clipped they can flutter about, become a member of the family. I just will not take a chance yorkies and birds. I say go for the parakeet if your dog is bird friendly, you don't need two. If you can find a breeder you will get a baby that you can hand train. I know nothing about where PetCo or other pet shops get their birds. Don't deny your heart, get the bird.